Map of old Kilkenny showing locations of former orchards

The first meeting of the steering group took place on Wed 14th in the BNS basement. We started off with a short introduction from everybody on their background, organisation and why they wished to be involved. There is a great diversity of interests including;

• local food promotion
• networking with other groups
• promoting wildlife and beautifying the city
• educating on food for children
• promoting community and creating a lasting legacy for future generations,
• expanding the work of Irish seed savers
• cross community projects
• art and theatre input
• celebrating 400 years of kilkenny
• raising awareness of climate change and peak oil and the need to reduce food miles and promote local self reliance.

Brainstorming

Using a transition town facilitation technique known as “the board game” a flip chart page was divided into 4 sections called dreaming, planning, doing and celebrating. Ideas that arose were categorised into each box.

Dreaming (in no particular order)
Underplant with bulbs
Photograph and film the project
KCLR special documentary
Community ownership to avoid vandals
Get youth included
Different groups and communities
Look for a certain number of groups and also churches
40 orchards of 10 trees
Sponsorship form from businesses
Kylemore Abbey as an example (have done something similar, see form here)
Dublin road approach as a possible site (KCLR support)
Cider & Damsons
Grafting course
Make it an annual event
Apple pressing during food festival
Possibility of Ag funding
Have a tour of Kilkenny showing where all the old orchards use to be

Planning
Locations and spaces to be identified
ISSA can supply trees (special offer due to large order)
Rootstock selection and Kilkenny soil to be taken under consideration
Rothe house for list of old Kilkenny varieties
Contact schools and businesses
Contact parts of a school and members of community groups

Doing
Two separate plantings, spring and autumn.
KKB plant trees anyway (usually 200-300 per year)
2-3 varieties in a group of 10
Advice and instruction on soil preparation/fencing.
Draw up a sponsorship form/package
Draw up a list of possible sites
Identify sites that may have been orchards in times past
Identify 4-6 sites for spring planting
Spring planting will act as an official launch of the project
Get onto council re planting sites, cable/pipes
Write a description and press release of the project
Launch 2nd week march Saturday 14th
Autumn planting during organic week
Possible spring sites; Castle park, Seville Lodge, Loretta, Corporate – chamber

Celebrating
Use the fruit
Community cider project
Apple pressing day during food festival
Loretta is also celebrating 400 years
Include the Traveller women project
Local food celebration day

Actions Points

The next step is to assign names to specific tasks and we have agreed to try and complete the following before the next meeting:

• Look into photographing and/or filming the project
• Contact KCLR re a special documentary
• Contact churches and introduce project
• Investigate Kylemore abbey sponsorship form etc
• Get pricing from ISSA
• Get list of suitable heritage varieties that once grew in Kilkenny
• Introduce project to KKB members
• Develop a soil prep course for planters
• Draw up a sponsorship form/package
• Write a description of the project so that we can start approaching people with documentation
• Find out when Organic Week is
• Put planting dates into 400 civic celebration diary
• Investigate apple pressing
• Investigate castle park site
• Investigate Seville lodge site
• Investigate Loretta site
• Investigate corporate/chamber

Next Meeting

Wed 28th Jan, BNS office, 10pm – 11:30pm

If you wish to attend this meeting, get involved in any of the above or have more ideas to add please email brian[at]click2go.ie